Do I need a permit to thru-hike High Sierra Trail?
Yes. You need a permit to thru-hike High Sierra Trail in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. It is the High Sierra Trail Permit, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
Permit required
What the High Sierra Trail permit costs and covers
- Fee
- $15 + $5/person
- Group size limit
- 15 people
What the rules require
- Wilderness permit required—reserve via Recreation.gov for Sequoia NP
- HST permit includes Whitney access when exiting at Whitney Portal
- Bear canister mandatory for entire trail
- WAG bag required for Whitney Zone (above Lone Pine Lake)
- Campfires prohibited above 9,000 feet
- Group size limited to 15 people on trail, 12 off-trail
Published rules for the High Sierra Trail Permit, quoted as written.
“To hike the High Sierra Trail, please obtain a Wilderness permit for the High Sierra Trail.”
Read August 20, 2026 on the National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks permit page
Getting one
Dates for High Sierra Trail sell out and then come back as people cancel. PermitSnag watches High Sierra Trail Permit and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.
Common questions about the High Sierra Trail permit
Do I need a permit to thru-hike High Sierra Trail?
Yes. You need a permit to thru-hike High Sierra Trail in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. It is the High Sierra Trail Permit, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
How much does a High Sierra Trail permit cost?
$15 + $5/person.
How many people can be on one High Sierra Trail permit?
15 people.